The Federal Reserve reversed course earlier this past week when it put interest rate rises on hold, prompted by rising risks to U.S. growth in the months ahead, rather than any signs the economy’s health is faltering now. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signaled on Wednesday the central bank will move to the sidelines to see whether the threats—including from the slowing global economy, trade tensions and the effect of the Fed’s rate increases over the last two years—generate a sharper-than-anticipated slowdown for a U.S. economy...

Source: Wall Street Journal February 02, 2019 12:00 UTC